Marshall County close to 2007 budget target

Adoption set for Sept. 11 meeting.

Adoption set for Sept. 11 meeting.

August 30, 2006|ANITA MUNSON Tribune Staff Writer

PLYMOUTH -- Marshall County Council members had high praise for county department heads at the conclusion of two days of 2007 budget talks. Don Morrison, council member, said department heads presented the council "reasonable" budgets for 2007. Department heads requested items for 2007 that would have created a $9.6 million budget. The council is considering cuts of a little more than $337,000 prior to budget adoption meetings beginning Sept. 11. The reductions are not final until the budget is adopted. The cuts would mean county leaders can achieve the target of $9.3 million to $9.4 million, county Auditor Jan Quivey estimated Tuesday afternoon. That is even with the council's approval Monday of wage increases for county workers that average about 5 percent. Quivey said the wage increases amount to about $209,331 from the county's general fund, or $320,544 total from all funds. The numbers do not include any requests for additional personnel or any wage increase requests that were over and above what the council has approved, Quivey noted. Although the reduction amounts remain fluid for the council's consideration, suggestions on Monday and Tuesday showed the following cuts, which the council may be inclined to make:

Recorder -- $500 from training from a request of $1,100.

Sheriff -- $67,500 from vehicle purchase, from a request of $135,000.

Center Township -- $200 from a training request of $700.

Coroner -- $400 from an office supplies request of $1,400; $400 from a repair of furniture and equipment request of $1,000, for a total of $800.

Prosecutor -- $1,200 from a request for a department head increase in the same amount.

Commissioners -- $10,000 from a request for the Boys & Girls Club of Marshall County of $10,000; $1,450 from a cost allocation request of $7,250, and $7,750 from a request of the same amount for participation in the Kankakee River Basin, for a total reduction of $19,200.

Plan Commission -- $400 from a request of $1,500 for printing and advertising.

Buildings and Grounds -- $5,000 from a $25,000 request for building materials and supplies, and $74,000 from a request for the same amount for controls, for a total reduction of $79,000.

Superior Court 1 -- $5,000 for a request in the same amount for a wage increase for the department head; $1,000 from a $6,000 request for overtime; $500 from a $1,500 request for a law clerk; $500 from a $1,500 request for computer supplies; $500 from a $1,000 request for office machine supplies, and $400 from a $1,000 request for repair of furniture and equipment, for a total reduction of $7,900.

Superior Court 2 -- $2,000 from a $6,000 request for a bilingual stipend; $5,000 for a request in the same amount for a department head wage increase; $1,200 from an $11,200 request for a law clerk; $1,000 from a $6,000 request for supplies; $200 from a $1,000 request for uniforms/clothing; $200 from a $500 request for jury meals; $200 from a $500 request for jury supplies; $4,000 from a $79,000 request for pauper counsel; $1,000 from a $4,000 travel/mileage request; $200 from a $300 postage request; $500 from a $1,500 request for repair of furniture and equipment; $5,000 from a $15,000 request for office equipment, and $1,000 from a $2,000 request for furniture and fixtures, for a total reduction of $21,500.

Circuit Court -- $5,000 from a request in the same amount for a department head wage increase; $5,000 from a $60,000 request for pauper counsel, for a $10,000 total reduction.

Probation -- $27,591 for a request in the same amount for an additional probation officer; $2,470 for probation officers for a request in same amount, and $4,400 from a $6,900 longevity request, for a total reduction of $34,461.

Budget adoption gets under way at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11, on the second floor of the County Building, 112 W. Jefferson St. A second consecutive day has been scheduled, if needed. Staff writer Anita Munson: amunson@sbtinfo.com (574) 936-2920